Speed control for motor-driven systems



May 12, 1925. 1,537,132

F. B. OLSON SPEED CONTROL FOR MOTOR DRIVEN SYSTEMS Filed Jan. 2, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Iii-0612202 Ewderzcirfl 01.9022 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. B. OLSON SPEED CONTROL FOR MOTOR DRIVEN SYSTEMS May 12, 1925.

May 12, 1925.

F. B. OLSON SPEED CONTROL FOR MOTOR DRIVEN SYSTEMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 2, 1920 1 nj/lllldllild fill!!! i r H .i f 4. r,

May 12, 1925.

F. B. OLSON SPEED CONTROL FOR MOTOR DRIVEN SYSTEMS iled Jan. 2, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 EIEIV I u fl l 0 1w nB Z an K1,, um i Patented May 12, 1925.

barren STA ES PATEN Q FICE- SPEED CONTROL E93 IVIOTQR-DRIVEN SYSTEMS.

Application filed January 2 1920. Serial No. 348.978.

T all whom z't may concern:

'Be it known that I,Fnnnnnro1; B. OLsoN,

a citiz'en' of the United States, residing at Berlin, county otCoos, State of New Hamp 5 shire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Speed Controls for Motor-Driven ystems, of which the follow ing is a specification.

i This invention relates to electric control systems and particularly to speed controls for alternating current motors. While capable of a great variety of application to difi'erent types of work, my invention is of greatest importance in connection with mechanisms or groups of mechanisms in which the control of the speed of themotor is" of prime importance. In some instances it is essential that a drive be maintained at some predetermined speed at which the mechanism must be run to produce a given product. In other instances it is essential that speed be varied to maintain some other factor constant. In such cases as require that the driven mechanism be maintained at fixed speed, anyvariation in load must be metin the motor as for example where paper making machines are being electrically driven. In other instances, as in the case of an electrically driven pump it is frequently necessary to reduce the volume without raising the pressure so that it is desirable to slow thepump rather than to cut down the rate of delivery with its concomitantrise pressure.

The application of my invention to the drive of a paper making machine is of practical importance and well adapted to illustratethe principles ofmy invention. lVith out any intention therefore of limiting my invention to such use, I shall discuss it particularly with reference to paper making,

and for the purpose of illustration of apparatus especially adapted to that purpose. Throughout the specification and drawings like reference characters are 'employed to indicate corresponding parts, and in the drawings i i Fig. I is a diagrammatic view of a con- ;trol system in accordance with my invention. i

Fig. II .a .plan view of the electric inotor control.

Fig. III a side elevation r r yi n tse ti n of .thesame tor with a rotor accurately and uniformly,

the suitability of the paper the variation in load on account of friction Fig. IV tion."

'Fig. V a detail view of the pressure reguunit, and Figs. VI, VII and VIII details of the valve constructions of such unit.

Referring to diagrammatic, view, Fig. I, I have indicated at l a main drive shaft which for the purposes of discussion may .be understood to be the drive shaft of a gang of paper making machines. The shaft 1 is driven by a motor 2 through suitable belting 3.. The motor 2 maybe of any standard type of alternating current mohaving a polyphasewindll In paper making the speed the wire and drums must be kept as nearly uniform as possible, uniformity of product being an end view also partly in secentir ly dependent upon the maintenance of accurate speed under all conditions. i

For example, in a characteristic set up the single shaft 1 usually drives the Fourdrinier driers, calendars, reels and rewinders. i

In the .fourdriniers the wire must be run any variations immeditaely affecting .the thickness of the paper. Variations in .the thickness of the paper are serious factors both as affecting for the purpose specified and the amount of the paper. In other words, variation in thickness results in variance both in the weight of the ream and the number of reams in the roll.

The slightest variation in thickness of the paper in the presses increases the load in these machines and adds another varying factor-inthe total load 011 the motor.

The driers in like manner contribute to 5 resulting from shrinkageof the paper in passing through. The calendars also require more orless power according to the amount of friction and variations in the paper. The variation in the .drivingof the reel is p actically continuous. As the rolls build up or are renewed there are wide fluctuations-in the load on the motor.

Furthermore, and in addition to all these factors which together produce a complicated variation of very considerable degree, there is the intermittent load of the rewinding reels 'which'are thrown in operation movement'to meet sudden or wide variafrom time to time as the rolls of paper are formed from the reels of the maininachine.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that in order to maintain'the'necessary uniform speed in the machines, it is necessary that the common driving shaft for all the machines be maintained at a fixed speed regardless of the fluctuations in load in any and all partsof the entire gang or of the current from which the motor is run. means that the system'of control must be very sensitive so as to immediately respond to any retardation or accelerationiin the machines.

In my invention 1 accomplish this accommodation preferably through a system of speed governed, pressure operated, fluid rheostatic control of the current in the rotor on the motor. V V

Referringagain to Fig. I, I provide as the controlling element for the current of my motor or motors if more than one is used on the same drive, an electric control consisting essentially of a series of electrodes 10 isolated in cells 11 over electrodes 12 which are bonded by conductors 13 from cell to cell. Each of the suspended electrodes is electrically connected to one of the windings of the rotor. This electric control iscapable of extreme delicacy of adjustment coupled with great freedom of tions.

My invention therefore :contemplates a manipulation of my control by a medium of equal flexibility and constance and responsive at once to the slightest tendencyof the main shaft'to retard or speed. I provide at 20a suitablesource of fluid pressure preferably a water supply. This supply is controlled by a three-way valve 21 communicating through pipe 30 to a cylinder'fll in which is a piston 32 on a stem 33weighted preferably as at 46. Thelniston 32 as indicated in Fig. I controls the plane of suspension of the electrodes 10 as will be hereinafter described. From the main shaft 1 I drive avgovernor 50 through suitable connection, This connectionshown in diagrammaticview, Fig. I, may for the present preliminary survey be entirely disregarded. The governor 50 through a" bell crank 80 and the valve 21 effectsa continuous readjustment ofithe pressure of the cylinder 31 so as to 'maintain within the cells 10 the necessary ohmic resistance to balance the current againstthe demands made upon the motor by variation in load.

;' Bearing in mind therefore thatthe main shaft 1' is to be maintained at a certain predetermined R. P. M. it will be seen that any variation of load on itmodifies the demand on the motor'2. With an adequate current the motor 2always has potentially suflicient power-to meet any demand made upon it by 'specti've pulleys. The

given installation. The problem is therefore one of permitting the motor to give immediate satisfactionto the demand-by a variation in its power so as not'to alter the speed of the shaft.

For this purpose I provide my electric control heretofore mentioned and which I will now describe more in detail.

The cells 11 heretofore mentioned are of non-porous insulating material set within a tank 14 which contains the electrolyte. Any 7 suitable electrolyte may beused, butI find calcium chloride highly satisfactory for this purpose.

lyte tank cooling cells '18 piped at 19 for.

circulation. The tank 14 is supported by an enclosing tubular frame work comprising The tank 1 1 is jacketed as at 15, this jacket being connected by pipes uprights and suitably spaced laterals 71.

, The uprights 70 are carried up beyond the top of the tanka convenient distance and J connected by horizontal members 72; Across the laterals 72 are'three shafts 73, 7 1 and on which are journalled a series of:

pulleys 73 7 1 and 75 These pulleys are so disposed as to present a working edge;

in central vertical alinement with the 7 cells 11.

The movable electrodes 10 are carried on rods 76 which are inturn suspended by suitable cords 77 which pass over their re suspension cords passing over the pulleys 73 and '74:? are turned about the pulley 75 which is triple grooved and acts as "a common winding drum for the three suspension systems for the movable electrodes. The stems 7 6 which bear the electrodes 10. pass through guides 78 set in transverse pieces 79. 'Held with ice in the guides '58 are porcelain insulating.

tubes 78 each extended down into a cell 11 so as to prevent thepassage of current of the cells 11 from one cell to another.

7 In the bottom of each of the cells is disthrough the electrolyte across the mouths having their fixed electrodes connected as at 13 a strip of copper.- The cells 11, the V electrodes 12, and conductors 13 are spaced from t-h'e floor of the tank 1 1' by suitable frame work-15 which keeps them out 1 of contact with the bottom of the tank l l'and affords a space within which any sediment may accumulate without interference of the The cells 11 function of the electrodes.

therefore whileimmersed ina commonit ank by. reason of insulators 78 afford electric isolation of each of the movable electrodes 10.

a Each one of thestems disconnected by r shown in Fig. I? pulley 95 on which turned a suspension carried at the through the pipe 30 will height, thus regulating 51 and the bevelled gears 52 a flexible copper cable 90 to one of the leads 91 of the rotor windings of the motor 2. The shaft of the pulley 75 is extended as and carries on its end a cord 9b. The stenr97 stem 33 and counter Weight 46 are thus hung by the cord 96011 the pulley 95.

lVit hin the cylinder '31 is the piston 32 lower end of the stem 33. The cylinder is vented at 3-1 to permit the escape of any air of water which might pass the piston 32. Fluid admitted to the piston therefore float the counterweight 46 at any predetermined the plane of suspension in which the electrodes 10 are to be maintained relative to the fixed electrodes 12.

The governor 5O driven from the pulley and 53 is provided with a vertically reciprocatingthrust rod 54. This rod is footed at 55 with point bearing on the short arm 81 of a bell crank lever 82, pivoted at 83 in a pocket 84, threaded on a stem 86. The long arm 82 is yieldingly sustained against the governor in its desired vertical adjustment by a backing spring 87 adjusted through a follower 88.

e lower end of the long arm 82 projects between valve stem 23, one of said bearings resting upon and being guided by the flat top of the adjusting post 24. The valve casing 21 has a cylindrical bore 25 pierced by three ports 26, 27 and 28. These ports are respectively connected with the waste pipe 26, With the pressure pipe 20 and the lead pipe to the operating cylinder 31. On the valve stem 23 are a pair of valve discs 23 adapted to be disposed when the valve is in neutral position opposite the port 28. 11 each side of the valve discs 23 are guiding and balancing plugs 23 so disposed on the valve stem 23 as to lie beyond the ports 26 and 27 when the valve is in the central or neutral position. So constructed, this valve is balanced as to pressure and is operable with a minimum of friction. The ratio of the lever arms 81 and 82 of the bell crank is such as to multiply the slightest variation in the governor so as to give the necessary movement of the valve stem 23 to effect either the admission of pressure to the pipe 30 or the'venting of the pipe 30 through the pipe 26 It may be noted at this point that when the valve 23 is moved inward or to the left of the casing as it appears in Fig. VII, it uncovers the port 28 and permits the flow of fluid entering the port 27 direct to the line 30. When the valve stem is withdrawn shifting the valve 23 to the right past the port 28, the line 30 is vented and is relieved through the port 26. When in neutral opposed bearings 22 on the 'f a well known type comprises two cone pullev oairs 61 and (i2 adhstahletowards and l 1 i 1 w away from eacn other by a eever 6o pivoted at 64 The pulley pairs are belted as at 65 and the device driven from the main shaft 1 as by metal pinions-66. This change speed device is important in that it permits the governor to be readily set to control the motor so that the shaft 1 will be maintained at any predetermined speed regardless of the normal speed of the motor. This takes care of a considerable degree of variation in the motor and its belting and in all those varying conditions which are incidental to running an installation of this sort. In case a motor breaks down any other mot-or within reasonable limits may be substituted or other parts of the mechanism may be replaced without the necessity of having especially made parts and permitting all the time the set of the system or a predetermined rate of speed. \Vhile this change speed unit therefore is really an important and practical element in my system it is not to be misunderstood as having anything to do with the continuous adj ustment which is almost continuously in the electric control of the motor to maintain the shaft 1 at its predetermined speed. The variable speed device being once set at the desired R. P. M. may be ignored as a factor in the variable speed control of the motor and the maintenance of the shaft 1 at a constant B. P. M.

From the foregoing it will now be seen how it is possible that the rotation of the shaft 1 may be so constantly maintained. In installations already made in accordance with my invention, carefully kept records show sustained runs at variations as low as one percent. Under most extreme and abusive shifts in load my system has held up the drive to variations of only a few per cent and those variations have been hardly more than momentary. This is against former ordinary fluctuations ten times as great and which seriously affected the weight of paper and made expensive stoppages and ad ustments necessary.

The counter balanced electrode floated on an easily variable fluid pressure makes possible an instant response within the -motor itself to any tendency to variations in the shaft 1.

Various modifications may obviously be made in the different elements of my system thus maintaining substituted therefor may be combined in various manners, all without departing from the spirit of my invention if within the 7 comprising a relatively limits of the appended claim.

What I therefore claim anddesire to se- 7 cure by Letters Patent is;

The combination witha and an electric motor having a polyphase winding, of a secondary liquid rheostat movable and a-relatively stationary electrode foraeach winding, a common support for the movable electrodes, a governor, a variable speed 15 mechanism interposed between said goverdriven element support for the movable electrodes of the rlieostat whereby to simultaneously vary the position of all of said movable electrodes upon a variation of the surface speed of said driven element. s V

In testimony whereof I affix my signature inpresenceof two witnesses. H

FREDERICK B. OLSON,

Witnesses: Y

VICTORIA LOWDEN, MARION F; WEISS. 

